RadioActive101 is a highly innovative educational intervention that is being implemented across Europe. It uses primarily internet radio and also social media to promote inclusion, informal learning, employability and active citizenship in an original and exciting way!

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information herein.

RadioActive101 were invited to a second collaboration to promote choice, control and quality of life for teens and adults with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). ‘Takin’ Charge’ and ‘DMD Pathfinders’ co-hosted a ground breaking event, “Into the Future” Duchenne Leadership Camp. RadioActive101 took part at the two-day workshop (16-17 Sep 2016) at Hereward College in Coventry and highlights will be will broadcast in a future radio show.

RadioActive PT were awarded funding and a distinguished prize by the FCT, the National Funding Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation. The prize acknowledged the work by the project team in Portugal with four youth centres (2013-14). The funding supported the expansion and replication of RadioActive101 in Portugal in cooperation with the governmental Programa Escolhas (Choices) throughout 2015 and beyond (now with six new youth centres). Giving support to the sustainability of the project, CIMJ has agreed locally with the Portuguese national ‘Choices Program’ to continue with the radio platform beyond the initial period and right through into this year.

I hope you will join us in welcoming the new coordinators of RadioActive101 in Portugal: Joana Alves dos Santos (Catapulta E6G), Teodoro Freitas (Escolhe Vilar E6G) and André Caeiro (Desafios E6G). They will ensure the continued production of radio shows with the children and young people at the centres.

As we move into spring RadioActive101 has now established FOUR new exciting collaborations here in the UK.

RadioActive101+ is our new specialist intervention working closely alongside Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) as part of its Regulate programme. We aim to help young people to think, challenge and better manage their behaviour and emotions through mindfulness and making radio programmes with RadioActive101. Our work with young people (aged 11-16) and the CAMHS team in Tower Hamlets has been carefully planned and will complement RadioActive101’s objective of embracing psychoeducation.

We continue to feed into the University of East London’s mission of being London’s leading Higher Education Institution for Civic Engagement. In Tower Hamlets, Hackney Wick work started with another new partner – local community group Hub 67. Hub 67 brings together all the local talent, ambitions and skills from individuals and groups who want to make their area a better place to live, and we aim to help them achieve their goals through making radio. You can hear the fruits of the first collaboration with Hub 67 with our special broadcast The Voices of London.

Work is now well underway with another London youth group (Spectrum Youth Project). Spectrum is an amazing space based in the heart of Tech City, Old Street, London and with the input of qualified youth workers, theatre makers, professional journalists and University of East London researchers, we aim to enhance a variety of creative media, drama and music services, by showing the young people at Spectrum how to make engaging radio programmes (while earning micro electronic badges for learning).

Introducing DMD Pathfinders – our first collaboration with this new group. The show explained more about Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and the history of DMD Pathfinders. It was hosted by Ravi and Farhan who introduced the group and brought us the latest news regarding Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy including breakthroughs in adult research; the use of Medical Marijuana for pain relief in adults with DMD as well as music from the hugely talented Jason Weaver. The show celebrates what people with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy are doing with their lives.

In the UK, RadioActive101 has been successful in winning a second University of East London ‘Excellence’ Funded PhD studentship! These doctorate studentships are funded for three years and the latest PhD examines Digital Media in Therapy: Development & Evaluation of a Participatory Radio Drama Intervention to Improve Psychotherapy Outcomes among At-Risk Youth with Conduct Disorder. Amanda Cooper will continue to collaborate across 3 Schools: Cass School of Education and Communities, The School of Psychology and The School of Arts and Digital Industries (ADI) at the University of East London. We congratulate Amanda on winning the studentship and wish her success in this exciting research area.